Well-Planned and methodical — that’s the campaign of the Bahujan Samaj Party for Assembly elections in four poll-bound states. Fourteen days in this month are reserved for party chief and UP Chief Minister, Mayawati, to address 23 public meetings held in these states, namely Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan, in that order.

Jobs were allotted to each minister, parliamentarian and legislator well in advance. Coordinators of the Bhaichara Committees were instructed to mobilise their community in the party’s favour in all these states. A clear-cut directive was conveyed on behalf of the party chief with a strict warning: “do not violate the Election Commission guidelines”.

Working much ahead of its rival parties, the BSP chalked out its strategy and started its poll campaign from Durg (Bhilai) in Chhattisgarh on November 9. Until November 25, Mayawati had addressed 14 public meetings — two in Chhattisgarh, 10 in Madhya Pradesh and two in Delhi. Her schedule is fixed until December 1 when she will concentrate on Delhi and Rajasthan.

There is no deviation from the scheduled programmes. “One thing the BSP supremo is averse to, is deviating from her scheduled programmes”, claims a party-man. He recalls the incident when arrangements were made for the party chief to stay at Khajuraho after the public meetings, but she preferred to fly back to Lucknow. “Behenji addressed 10 meetings in five days in a row, starting from November 18. Everyday she was here in the morning, addressed two gatherings and went back to UP in the evening”, says Narmada Prasad Ahirwar, party president from Madhya Pradesh. The BSP has fielded 228 candidates for 230 seats in MP. The party is contesting on all the assembly seats in Chhattisgarh (90), Delhi (70) and Rajasthan (200).

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